Heisman Watch: Barkley hurdles to the top

By Nhan Doan

Sports Blogger

@trongnhann25

Without Saquon Barkley’s contribution, Penn State wouldn’t be able to escape Iowa at the death. His 211 rushing yards and 94 receiving yards outgained the entire Iowa team, which had only 273 yards but was one play away from the upset. Barkley showcased his abilities to be a team player in the clutch situation, providing a crucial block for quarterback Trace McSorley, who found receiver Juwan Johnson for the winning touchdown.

Baker Mayfield was productive, completing 13-of-19 pass attempts for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Mayfield’s last touchdown pass was the go-ahead score and came a play after he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Mayfield made the case for himself for responding from a setback.

After a frustrating outing against Clemson the past week, Lamar Jackson bounced back. His three total touchdowns gave him 88 for his career, breaking the school’s record. Jackson must improve on his performance against top-tier teams to convince the voters in his attempt to defend the Heisman Trophy.

Mason Rudolph’s lack of mobility and poor decision making cost Oklahoma State against TCU. Whenever he failed to spot an open receiver, Rudolph seemed hesitant about whether to throw or to run past the line of scrimmage. His failure to make up his mind caused him to commit three turnovers, two of which were converted for touchdowns. However, his productive numbers were impressive thanks to his wide receivers.

Josh Rosen was sluggish for most of the match. Two of his touchdowns came late in the second half when Stanford had a comfortable lead. Although he ended the week leading the nation in passing yards with 1,753, Rosen needs to work on his accuracy to make the most of the system that is contributing to his emphatic stats. His 65.5 percent completion rate isn’t good enough to convince the voters. At times, he misses his receivers, though facing little pressure from the defense.